Skip elevating and dumping device



Aug. 16, 1955 A. SEPPOLA SKIP ELEVATING AND DUMPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1952 Aug. 16, 1955 A SEPPOLA 2,715,471

SKIP ELEVATING AND DUMPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofice Z ,7 l 5 ,4? i Patented Aug. 16, 1955 SKIP ELEVATING AND DUMPIN G DEVICE Asle Seppoia, Evansburg, Alberta, Canada Application January 11, 1952, Serial No. 266,034

3 Claims. (Ci. 214-403) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in material elevating devices, more specifically to material elevating devices to be used in conjunction with relatively tall structures, such as buildings, an object of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described whereby both semi-fluid materials such as concrete and the like together with solid material such as lumber may be elevated by the same device to a predetermined unloading area.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which may be adjusted within limits for height of operation by the insertion or removal of sections of rails.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described wherein semi-fluid materials such as concrete and the like may be elevated to the predetermined height and then automatically tipped for unloading purposes at the unloading site.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is specifically adapted for use with the elevation of material from, for example, ground level to the first, second or third floors of a building, the existing walls of the building being used as a supporting means for the upper ends of my device which rest thereagainst.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is particularly suitable for use in the elevation of material such as lumber inasmuch as the lumber may be carried upon a detachable trestle and then slid downwardly over a pivotal extension of the rails of my device on to the unloading area.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes means to prevent the elevating bucket from being displaced from the rails during the tipping operation or during the raising and lowering of said bucket.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is relatively economical in manufacture, simple in operation and, otherwise, well suited for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which: I

Figure l is a side elevation of my device showing the bucket at the upper limits of the rails and also showing the bucket in phantom at the lower extremities of the rails and also in the tipping or unloading position at the upper ends of the rails.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the detachable trestle for the bucket.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of my device showing the bucket in use with the trestle of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the bucket upon the front and rear rails of my device, other supporting structure being deleted for clarity.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bucket per se.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective exploded view of the method of connecting lengths of rail together.

Figure 7 is a section taken substantially along the line 7--7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary rear view of the pivotal connection of the rails to the upper ends of the bracing structure.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that it consists primarily of a supporting platform 1, rails collectively designated 2, extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom, a bucket 3, running upon said rails, and a source of power in the form of a motor and winch 4 situated upon the supporting platform 1.

More specifically, the supporting platform 1 may take the form of a substantially rectangular platform having screw adjustments 5 at the corners thereof whereby the supporting platform may be levelled with reference to the surface upon which it is supported. Bracing structure, in the form of a pair of vertically disposed flanges 6, extend upwardly from said supporting platform 1, said flanges being parallel one with the other and being angulated as shown in Figure 7 for rigidity and strength. These flanges are substantially triangular in configuration when viewed in side elevation and terminate with opensided bearing brackets 7, within which a transverse axle 8 is supported for partial rotation. This axle is retained within the brackets 7 by means of bolts 9, as illustrated in Figure l.

The aforementioned rails 2 which will be described in detail hereinafter, are secured to the axle 8 and may pivot thereon within limits in order to adjust the angle of inclination of said rails 2 from the vertical. In this connection, Figure 1 will show that I have provided an adjustable brace 10 secured to the rails 2 and also to the bracing structure 6 adjacent the base thereof by means of a bolt 11, the plurality of apertures, 12 within the brace 10 permitting and controlling the aforementioned angle of inclination of the rails 2.

The aforementioned rail assembly, collectively designated 2, includes a rear pair of parallel rails 13 and 'a front pair of parallel rails 14, the front pair 14 being closer together and inside the limit bounded by said rear pair 13. All of these rails are of I cross-section and are maintained in their relative positions one with the other by a series of transverse brackets 15 which are welded to the front of the rails at intervals along the lengths thereof. Furthermore diagonal bracings 16 span the front of the front pair of rails 14 adding further rigidity to the structure.

This overall rail assembly which is collectively designated 2 is secured to the aforementioned single axle 8 by means of a pair of brackets 17 which clamp to the front flanges 19 of the rear pair of rails 13 and extend forwardly to form bosses 20 which are welded or otherwise secured to the anxle 8. In this connection, although it will be observed from Figures 1 and 7, that the aforementioned brackets 10 are secured adjacent the lower ends of the rear pair of rails 13. Before passing to a description of the bucket, collectively designated 3, it should be noted that the lower ends 21 of the rear pair of rails 13 are curved rearwardly to act as stops for the bucket and that the upper portion 22 of the rear pair of rails 13 is angulated forwardly slightly in order to assistin the dumping of the bucket as will hereinafter be described. Also the upper ends 23 of the front pair of rails 14 are angulated downwardly fairly sharply and then terminate in bucket stops 24 also to facilitate the dumping of the bucket.

Reference to Figure 6 will show the means to connect adjacent lengths of rail together in order to extend the overall height of the device and it should be appreciated that the two rails shown in Figure 6 are reversed with relation to Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows in fragmentary form a pair of adjacent ends of a front rail 13 and 13 together with the joining component 25 which is of hollow T shaped configuration.

Itfwill be seen that the portion 26 of the joining component is engageable by the flanges 27 of the ends of the rails and that the pair of plate portions 28 engage upon each side of the web 29 to which it may be bolted or riveted as desired. It is necessary to have this type of joining'component on the rear rails in order to prevent interference of the joining component with the operation of the bucket.

The front rails are joined adjacently together by means of a special joining component 30 and in Figure 6 also is shown the adjacent ends of a pair of front rails 14 and 14'. Once again it is necessary to ensure that there is no interference from the joining component 30 with the operation of the bucket upon the rails and, therefore, I have provided an encircling sleeve 31 having a clamping plate 32 therewithin, the sleeve slipping over the front flanges 32 of the rail ends and being clamped thereagainst by means of bolts 33.

Details of the bucket, collectively designated 3, are best shown in Figures 4 and 5. A perusal of these views will show that the bucket is relatively deep and has a vertical rear wall 34 and a pair of side walls 35 which converge inwardly slightly towards the front wall 36. However, it will be observed that this front wall inclines inwardly and downwardly towards the base of the bucket 37 therefore,

giving a base of considerably less area than the upper open side 38 thereof. A pair of flanged wheels 39 are journalled for rotation upon axle 40 which in turn is supported by means of a support 41 situated transversely across the bucket and adjacent the base thereof, said wheels being mounted upon the aforementioned front side 36 of the bucket. It will be observed that the flanges 42 of the wheels 39 on the upper ends of the wheels are externally situated thereon and reference to Figure 4 will show that these wheels 39 are adapted to engage upon the rear flanges 19' of the rear pair of rails 13 the flanges D preventing lateral. displacement of the bucket from the rails.

Two further pairs of flanged wheels 43 and 44 are situated transversely upon the front side 36 .of the bucket substantially towards the upper-end thereof. The first pair of wheels 43 are mounted for rotation upon an axle 45 supported within a bracket 46, welded to the front face of the bucket whereas the second pair of wheels 44 are carried upon the ends 47 of an angulated spindle 48 also secured to the bracket 46 said spindle being angulated to form stub axles upon which said wheels 44 may rotate.

Reference to Figures 4 and 5 will show that the flanges 49 of the wheels 43 are externally situated whereas the flanges 50 of the wheels 44 are internally situated and an examination of Figure 4 will show that the wheels 43 run upon the rear flanges 51 of the front set of rails 14 whereas the, wheels 44 run between the rear flanges 51 and the front flanges 51' of these'rails and internally with respect to the webs 52 thereof. It will, therefore, be appreciated that the wheels 44 retain the bucket from undesirable displacement from the front pair of rails 14.

A detachable bail 53 over-spans the bucket and is pivotally secured to the bucket sides upon pins 54. This bail curves forwardly as illustrated in Figure land is also provided with hooking means 55 at the top thereof for connection with a winching cable 56. Furthermore, the pivotal movement of the bail 53 is limited in a forward direction by means of bail side retainers 57 extending from the side 35 of the bucket.

The aforementioned source of power in the form of a winch 4 is mounted upon the supporting platform 1 and may be driven from a remote source of power or may be a self-contained power unit. The winching cable 56 ex tends from the winch 4 upwardly and forwardly over a sheave pulley 58 which is journalled for rotation adjacent the apex of a selectively pivotable extension 59 over-spanning the upper ends of the rear pair of rails 13. This extension acts as supporting structure for the sheave 58 and is braced in the position shown in Figure l by means of detachable braces 60 shown in phantom.

After passing over sheave 58 the cable is connected to the bail 53 of the bucket when the bucket is being used for elevating semi-fluid or comminuted materials. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the winch 4 and the cable 56 controls the elevation and lowering of the bucket upon the rails 13 and 14. In this connection it will be observed that there is a further pulley 61 mounted within bracket 62 adjacent the upper ends of the forward rails 14 and that this pulley allows for the change of direction in the cable 56 when the bucket 3 is on the lower portions of the rails. This pulley 61 has a pair of sheaves but when the device is operating as illustrated in Figure 1, only one of these sheaves is in use.

Before describing the embodiment of my invention used for raising lumber and the like, the operation of the device for the elevation of semi-fluids or comminuted materials will be described.

Withthe bucket engaging the rails 13 and 14, as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, the winch permits the bucket to descend to the lower ends of the rails as illustrated in.

phantom in Figure 1, the stop 21 upon thelower ends of the rear pair of rails 13 preventing the lower portion of the bucket from disengagement. It will be appreciated that the interaction of the pairs of wheels 44 and 43 with the front pair of rails 14 also prevents displacement of the bucket therefrom.

After loading, the winch is set in operation thus raising the bucket upwardly along the rails 13 and 14 until the portion 22 of the rear pair of rails is reached. Due to the staggered arrangement of the pairs of wheels 43 and 44 and due also to the fact that whereas the portion 22 of the rear pair of rails inclines forwardly and the front pair of rails maintains the same direction, the lower pair of wheels 39 leaves the rails as illustrated in Figure 1 in full line. At this point, it will be observed that the direction of pull upon the bucket bail 53 forces the sides of the bail into engagement with the retainers 57, thus tending to tip the bucket forwardly. However, this cannot be accomplished until the pairs of wheels 43 and 44 start travelling over the down-turned ends 23 of the front pair of rails at which time the bucket commences to tip as it is drawn forwardly over these portions 23 until the pair of wheels 43 strike against the stops 24. When in this position, the bucket is substantially horizontal and further movement by the winch via cable 56 causes the bail 53' to be drawn forwardly and, due to the fact that the bail is pivotally secured to the bucket adjacent the lower portion thereof, then this tips the bucket as illustrated in phantom in the upper portion of Figure 1 thus depositing the contents upon the loading area.

Release of the winch 4 permits the bucket to return to the position shown in Figure 1 in full line whereupon the descent of the bucket upon therails may be controlled by the winch in the conventional manner.

When it is desired to use my device to elevate lengths of lumber and the like, a detachable trestle 62 is utilized. This trestle is shown in detail in Figure 2, and in position in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings from which it will be seen to consist of an open lattice supporting platform having a pair of downwardly depending lugs 63 adjacent the front thereof and a single downwardly depending lug 64 at the rear end thereof. Furthermore, upstanding guards 65 may be engaged within brackets 66 around the perimeter of the framework in order to retain lumber placed transversely thereacross.

The downwardly depending lugs 63 together With the lug 64 form means whereby the trestle may be secured to the bucket 3 the lugs 63 being fastened to the sides 35 of the bucket via bolts 63 and the lug 64 to the rear side of the bucket via bolt 64 as clearly shown in Figure 3. It will be appreciated that when the trestle is used, the bail 53 is removed, under which circumstances, of course, the cable 56 has to be fastened to the bucket in a different manner. To enable this to be carried out, a further hook 65 is provided upon the front side of the bucket substantially adjacent the base thereof.

When my device is used for elevating lumber or the like, the aforementioned selectively pivotable extension 59 should be inclined downwardly as shown in Figure 3, and in order to permit the extension to take up this position, it will be appreciated that the braces 60 will have to be removed. The extension is inclined downwardly as illustrated and rests upon the unloading area as shown. Under these circumstances, the cable 56 has to be rerouted and, in this instance, it passes over one sheave of the pulley 61 and thence to the pulley 58 back over the other sheave of the pulley 61 and downwardly to the bucket. Alternatively, the cable may come directly from the winch, over the pulley 61 and thence to the hook 65.

In operation, this embodiment is loaded at the base of the rails or with lengths of lumber and the like placed transversely across the trestle 62 whereupon the bucket and contents may be elevated by the winch 4.

When the bucket reaches the position shown in Figure 3, it will be seen that the trestle 62 is level or flush with the downwardly inclined extension 59 so that material can be slid from the trestle downwardly upon the loading area with the minimum of labour.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely diiierent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A material elevating device comprising in combination a supporting platform, bracing structure associated therewith, a front pair of parallel rails extending upwardly from said platform, a rear pair of parallel rails also extending upwardly from said platform, said rails being pivotally secured along the length thereof to the upper end of said supporting platform and extending at an angle from the vertical, means to vary said angle within limits, a wheeled bucket movable upon said rails, a trestle detachably secured upon the upper side of said bucket, means to elevate and lower said bucket upon said rails, a selectively pivotable extension over-spanning the upper ends of said rear pair of rails, said extension being capable of inclining downwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the upper side of said bucket so that material supported by said trestle may be discharged upon said extension.

2. A bucket for use with material elevating devices, a removable bail upon said bucket, the sides of said bail curving forwardly with relation to said bucket, said bail being pivotally secured to said bucket adjacent the base thereof, bail-side retainers adjacent the front side of said bucket, a pair of flanged wheels mounted for rotation upon the front side of said bucket adjacent the base thereof, said wheels being situated beyond the sides of said I bucket, and two further pairs of flanged wheels mounted for rotation upon the front side of said bucket adjacent the upper end thereof, one of said last mentioned pairs of wheels being flanged externally and the other of said pair of wheels being flanged internally for the purpose specified.

3. The device according to claim 2 which includes a detachable trestle adapted to span the open upper side at( said bucket for supporting lengths of lumber and the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

